Flashlight



April 6, 1937. J. w. BELLAMY FLASHLIGHT Filed Aug. 12, 1935 (/6 sip/y W542; FM):

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 12, 1935, Serial No. 35,859

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a flashlight and more particularly to the switch and circuit thereof. The ordinary hand flashlight usually embodies a cylindrical body portion having a light lens and d reflector encased at one end, one or more batteries in the body portion, a closure cap at the other end and a switch carried on the body portion intermediate the respective ends. Usually this switch embodies a member which is slidable and designed to be moved by the finger or thumb of the operator. This construction of a switch may only be used for lighting purposes and cannot be used for testing fuse plugs, lights, circuits or other electrical apparatus or hook-ups such as are commonly required to be accomplished by troublemen when working on electric circuits or fixtures. Furthermore. I have found that a great many of such switches become loose after a. reasonable amount of reciprocation of the movable member and, if the flashlight falls or is jarred,

the circuit contact is often broken. My construction. as herein set forth. overcomes these undesirable features. Furthermore with the swstch which I provide, a rolling action of the body por tion on a flat surface will move the switch arm to inoperative position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming apart of the present application, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end plan view of my switch cap, looking toward the inner face thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevational view of the switch end of the flashlight, showing the mode of testing a fuse plug.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the switch circuit.

15 Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

The principle of my invention disclosed in this application is primarily in regard to the switch construction as hereinafter disclosed. But, to

F0 illustrate the switch and its operative relationship in the complete flashlight construction, I have shown a body portion 6 of cylindrical form, in which may be carried a light, lens, reflector and any suitable holding means therefor at the it end 1 01 the body portion 8. One or more dry cell batteries 8 may be positioned in the body portion 8 in proper circuit arrangement. Various modifications may be made in the part of the flashlight so far described and I do not wish to claim any speciflc invention pertaining thereto, other than these respective elements to complete the circuit in which the hereinafter switch construction forms a part.

The opposite end of the body portion 6 may be threaded or provided in any other suitable way with a means for engaging and retaining my switch cap hereinafter referred to. The body portion of my switch cap is preferably made of stamped or suitably formed insulation material and comprises a disc-shaped body portion 9, having the periphery of its outer end flanged outwardly thereof as at It. The inner end of the disc-shaped body portion 9 is provided with an inwardly directed cylindrical portion I l. Supported inwardly from this cylindrical portion II, I provide an engagement portion I! of conductive material and formed in such a manner as to be easily engaged with the threading or other engagement means on the adjacent end of the body portion 6. A conductor pin I3 is carried through the cylindrical portion H. One end of this conductor pin I3 is in fixed contact with the engagement portion I 2. The other end of the conductor pin i3 is preferably headed and is held in the path of travel of a switch member hereinafter referred to.

Centrally positioned relative to the inner face of the portion 9, I provide a helical spring H, one end of which is of spiral formation and engaged to the inner face'of the disc-shaped body portion 9 by means of the clip l5 and the screw IS. The screw It also extends through an opening in the inner end of the switch arm I 1. An arcual slot I8 is formed between the meeting portions of the disc-shaped body portion 9 and the inwardly directed cylindrical portion ll, through which slot the free end of the switch arm I! protrudes. The outer end of the switch arm l'l may be bent laterally and provided with a serrated or any other suitably formed finger grip. Referring to Fig. 2, I show three positions to which the switch arm I! may be moved. When in the position Ila, it is in normally opened position and the circuit hereinafter referred to is positively broken. When in the position llb, the circuit is closed through the switch arm I! being in contact with the headed end of the conductor pin I 3. When in the position He, the circuit hereinafter referred to (also shown in Fig. 4) is in open position, but the switch arm is in such position that a fuse l9, light or contact points may have their ends positioned to engage respectively the switch arm i? and the body portion 6. When an article to be tested is thus positioned relative to these respective 1'; parts, the circuit will be completed and the flashlight light (not shown) will be energized, thus intimating to the operator that the fuse H or other article being tested is in proper functioning order.

10 I wish to herein draw attention to the fact that, upon the flashlight being rolled on a fiat surface, the protruding end of the switch arm M will be pressed to the position as shown at 110 and thus make a positive disconnection of the circuit. I

15 further want to direct the attention of those skilled in the art to the fact that the switch arm I? (as engaged under the screw N) has a double resistance movement partially through the engagement by the screw l6 and partially by the re- 20 silient engagement under the spring I when in positively broken position or in circuit closed position.

In the illustration and in the specifications hereinbeiore set forth, I have disclosed a flashlight embodying a cylindrical body portion 6. This body portion may be rectangular shaped in cross section or in any other desired shape and the same principle of switch may be used in combination therewith by having certain minor changes 30 in configuration to facilitate proper arrangeacreage merit of the respwtive parts and operations thereof in a like manner to that hereinbefore described.

The foregoing specification and annexed drawing disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that minor changes may be resorted to in the commercial adaptation of my invention without departing form the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a portable flashlight, a switch cap comprising a plug of insulating material formed with a recess on its inner end and an annular groove adjacent its outer end, said grooved portion being formed with a slot connecting said portion with said recess, a metallic collar carried on the inner end of said plug and fitting the body of the flash light, a spring contact housed in said recess, and secured to said plug, a switch arm connected to said spring contact and pivotally mounted on said plug in said recess and projecting thru said slot into the grooved portion of said plug and a contact connected to said metallic collar engageable by said switch arm.

2. In a portable flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said switch arm is provided with a finger grip which is securely housed in said grooved portion when said switch arm is in inoperative position.

JOSEPH WILLIAM BELLAMY. 

